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Asia, Travel
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April 7, 2015

Visiting Thailand and Cruising the Mekong River

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It’s been two weeks since I returned from my trip to Thailand.

I was ready for a very many things, except for the long flight – I definitely should have prepared better for that (sleeping meds, more getting up and stretching, and more comfortable clothes, for starters).

I knew that whatever happened didn’t matter, because it was all new to me anyway. I think this is still the most excited thing about travel for me; the unexpected, the unknown, the new. It mattered little how much Anthony Bourdain has featured the country in his series, or how many travel bloggers often write about the country – for me it was all new.

Everyone suggested I visit Chiang Mai (everybody loves Chiang Mai, especially its vibrant expat community and beauty) – I didn’t. I was told to visit the elephant sanctuary for rescued and retired elephants – but I didn’t (I do hope to visit with my children one day). I was even told to eat pad Thai and all kinds of street food. I sort of did, but not pad Thai, as every time I came across a street vendor making it, I wasn’t hungry enough to want any. And I didn’t eat any bugs though I was happy to film other people doing it. Honestly, as adventurous as I can be, biting into a silk worm was just not going to happen.

ChiangKhan_girlgonetravel_allrightsreservedBy the time I found the pad Thai, I wasn’t hungry. It was a bit harder to find than I expected!

Some would roll their eyes at the lack of what so many know to be the typical Thai experiences most people have when they visit, but I would argue that my experiences in Thailand were anything but lacking. One short visit felt more like a tasting of something so much bigger making it impossible to share in one single post.

So, instead, I decided to share my #DiscoverThainess experience in the little pieces that meant so much to me, with the first one being the afternoon our group took a boat ride down the Mekong River while visiting the small village of Chiang Khan in Loei, Thailand.

ChiangKhan_girlgonetravel_allrightsreserved ChiangKhan_girlgonetravel_allrightsreservedThe people here were some of the friendliest I have ever met anywhere.

Located in the North-Eastern part of Thailand and thus one of the coolest areas of the country, I was spared the intensity of the heat I briefly experienced while in Bangkok. Not many international tourists visit here, but national visitors flock the area annually to escape the summer heat.

ChiangKhan_girlgonetravel_allrightsreserved

Sailing the Mekong River_All rights reserved_girlgonetr
I love everything about this area, but taking in the sunset and local views of farmers and fishermen at work while on the Mekong is one of those travel-dreams-come-true that I still can’t put into words. So, I thought it best to share it all through photography in the hopes that you will understand just how special it was.

Sailing the Mekong River_All rights reserved_girlgonetravelSailing the Mekong River_All rights reserved_girlgonetr Sailing the Mekong River_All rights reserved_girlgonetrView of Laos

Sailing the Mekong River_All rights reserved_girlgonetrSailing the Mekong River_All rights reserved_girlgonetr Sailing the Mekong River_All rights reserved_girlgonetr Sailing the Mekong River_All rights reserved_girlgonetr
Sailing the Mekong River_All rights reserved_girlgonetr Sailing the Mekong River_All rights reserved_girlgonetr

Sailing the Mekong River_All rights reserved_girlgonetrSailing the Mekong River_All rights reserved_girlgonetrSunset over Mekong

I just found out that Uniworld luxury river cruises offers Mekong River cruises as well! Check them out! (And read about my cruise experience with them through the Aquitaine!)

Don’t miss: Images of Chiang Khan.

Photography is property of the publisher and may not be used without consent of GirlGoneTravel.com

Disclosure: My first trip to Asia was sponsored by Thailand Tourism and their partners, and I was invited to experience what they have in store for those planning to attend this year’s TBEX Asia conference in October of 2015. All opinions are my own.

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

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4 Comments
  • zipporahs
    April 14, 2015

    I was in Thailand with you (sort of) and this made me want to go. ROFL

    Reply
    • caincarol
      zipporahs
      April 15, 2015

      Hahaha! I want to go too…oh wait. LOL!

      Reply
  • thebritishberliner
    April 25, 2015

    These photos are beautiful Carol. I’m so glad that you finally got to go to Asia. And choosing Thailand as the very first destination is great as it smoothes and opens the way to other Asia countries in the future! I love Asia as apart from Europe of course, it’s my favourite continent and I have been to many countries there. I’ve been to Thailand 3 times and was in Thailand, Indonesia, Korea and Qatar just last summer!
    Welcome to the club LOL!

    Reply
  • caincarol
    April 27, 2015

    Woooo! I\’m just getting started : )) Thanks!

    Reply

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About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons and 2 puppies. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

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If you are a foodie traveler, Madison, WI is a des If you are a foodie traveler, Madison, WI is a destination for you. This list of good eats were all within close proximity to each other and spots we made time for during our short weekend visit. So definitely note that this doesn’t even begin to cover the tip of the iceberg, but makes a good starter list!

📍@ShortStackEats in the heart of Downtown Madison is clearly a UW favorite. Loved their pancakes! We thought it was a pricey for breakfast, and only offered drip coffee, but the scene was fun, food was good, and service was friendly.
📍@SardineMadison is a waterfront French bistro that has stood the test of time (we’ve been coming here since we lived in Madison!). It can feel very corporate some nights, but their Happy Hour and brunch are definite highlights and it’s a really nice dining experience overall.
📍@EatattheAudrey impressed us! It’s not your usual “hotel restaurant” and I would say it easily stands alone as an eatery worth checking out in Madison. Great breakfast options, cozy vibes, nice bar, and good service!
📍@RamenStation1124 good, affordable ramen.
📍BlindShotSocialClub We really loved this spot for brunch (sorry, was enjoying the company and totally spaced out on capturing food images!). Golf fans will love hitting the putt here (you can reserve a private room too), and what I though was most cool was the delicious and wide selection of non-alcoholic cocktails to choose from. This place is a total vibe!
📍@StringsRamen is a chain, but I have to say it is some of the best ramen I have had in a long time. I especially loved how you can choose your ramen but heat level but also by Japanese region which allowed us to taste a couple of new flavors!
📍@Parthenongyros has been around awhile (hubby recalls coming here during his college years!) and was voted #1 take out in Madison! Though we indulged inside and away from the snow. A delicious, quick bite when strolling around State Street.

And again, this is just a starter list. There is so much more to eat and enjoy in this top foodie city! What other spots would you add to this list?

#madisonwi #foodiegram #foodiedestinations #goodeats @destinationmadison
I love to travel. It has always been important to I love to travel. It has always been important to my family. My parents got my first passport weeks after I was born. They couldn’t afford to travel like I do now, but they understood, as immigrants, the absolute privilege that comes attached to having that shiny blue American booklet and they wanted me to have it.

I was yet again reminded of my privilege when my travel back home on this last trip was delayed over 24 hours. I have a village in place to make sure my kids were ok. Having my own business meant I didn’t have to report in to anyone, and was still able to work remotely so none of my clients were inconvenienced by it. Though the airline covered our hotel and food, we never worried that we couldn’t do it ourselves otherwise. While we were annoyed, we weren’t stressed.

So while I love to travel, and I love sharing my travels with you, I acknowledge that being able to do so, and dealing with the consistent travel disruptions so prevalent today without worries is a privilege…one that started with a little blue booklet that gives me more access to the world than some others do.

And I want us all in this travel space to be reminded of this. Of how lucky we are. Of our privilege to access and time and money.

So let us travel with grace and awareness. Let us remain rooted in reality and perspective. Acknowledging that our escapism isn’t one so easily accessible to others. Understanding that this is also why local stories have as much value as those to exclusive destinations, if not more. And, never forgetting, especially in the travel influencer and media space, that were it not for hosted campaigns and paid-for travel opportunities, most of us wouldn’t be able to afford the lifestyle we so beautifully curate online.

It doesn’t matter how often you travel, or how far. Just that hopefully you will be able to gift yourself the experience of doing so and experiencing something new.

#travel #travelmedia #travelinfluencer #wheretonext
As I work on compiling all the good eats I experie As I work on compiling all the good eats I experienced in Madison, WI, I have to ask: what is your favorite meal of the day, and where did you experience a highlight of the same?

I am a huge fan of breakfast. This beauty was a blueberry pancake order from @shortstackeats. Pancakes are not a big thing for me, but these were pretty perfect. I am craving them still. 🥞♥️

#madisonwi #goodeats #travelingfoodie @destinationmadison
We got back on a plane! Here are scenes from a qui We got back on a plane! Here are scenes from a quick trip to Madison, WI - my first time back in 14 years! Though we were here for family matters, we did take a moment to explore a bit of what used to be a place we called home.

We couldn’t do anything else until we drove around Lake Monona, where we once had a home, and took in the wintery views (there is an epic 13.2-mile trail that loops around the lake that is worth exploring if you visit!). Though our time was limited, we were able to enjoy some of it along State Street exploring the shops, eateries, the FREE @mmocamadison, and the beautiful architecture of the WI State Capitol Building (the Dane County Farmers Market will soon pick up again - Saturdays, April 15 thru November 11, 2023 around the Capitol Building and it is one of the best farmers markets anywhere!). 

We booked a room at the @hiltonmadison Monona Terrace to be within walking distance of all the downtown fun (tip: for a room with a lake view make sure to book at the upper levels above 10th floor for an unobstructed view of Lake Monona). 

Madison, WI is a skip and a hop from the Finger Lakes so this short and sweet visit didn’t feel difficult at all. And we absolutely loved the winter scenery and seeing what has changed (a lot) since we lived here.

Stay tuned for my list of where we ate!

Have you ever been to Madison, WI?

#madisonwi #weekendgetaway #wisconsin @destinationmadison
The joy of that first sip of the day. #randommom The joy of that first sip of the day. 

#randommomentsarethebest
I think my husband enjoys it, but still can’t be I think my husband enjoys it, but still can’t believe how easily I’ve been waking up in the early mornings since our last trip. Not sure how to shake it, or if it’s temporary, but here it is: the rare sighting of me up and moving early in the day. Am I a morning person now? Has travel ever permanently changed any of your habits?

#morningperson #lifeinthecountry #newme <-😂

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